It’s March 2014, but you could forgive medical device company leaders if they’re still smarting a bit from a generally tough 2013. Several new studies indicate a low level of mergers and financing occurred last year, which could slow product innovation down the line.

Also there was a drop in 2013 product approvals. And we get mixed reports on how that medical device excise tax thing is affecting initiatives.

Let’s start with taxes. Studies from the Emergo Group, reports from AdvaMed, and comments from the Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) paint slightly different pictures; although none say the tax is good for the industry, the reaction has ranged from sort of bad to really bad.

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